Global markets roundup, 24 April

24/04/2014

• FTSE 100 down 0.1% to 6,674

• Gold up 0.01% to $1,283.90/oz

• £/$ – 1.6782

The FTSE 100 slipped back a little yesterday, closing down 0.1% at 6,674.

Antofagasta was the day’s worst performer, down 5.7% after going ex-dividend. Other big fallers included Centrica, which lost 4.2%, and Sport Direct, which fell 4% despite reporting a rise in earnings.

In Europe on Thursday, the Paris CAC 40 fell 33 points to 4,451 and the German Xetra Dax lost 56 points to 9,544.

In the US yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1% to 16,501, the S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 1,875, and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.8% lower at 4,126.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 slid 1% to 14,404, and the broader Topix index fell 0.8% to 1,164. And in China, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.5% to 2,57, and the CSI 300 was 0.2% lower at 2,190.

Brent spot was trading at $109.37 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $101.74. Spot gold was trading at $1,285 an ounce, silver was at $19.33 and platinum was at $1,396.

And today, builder’s merchant Travis Perkins reported a rise in sales. Like for like sales in the first quarter rose by 12.7%, with total sales up by 14.2%. Sales in its consumer division, which includes the Wickes DIY chain, rose by 6.9%.

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